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I am whatever YOU think I am until YOU get to KNOW me. This is true for everyone else too, of course.. so don't make assumptions about anyone or pass judgment; ask questions. You might just make a new friend.

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Monday, October 1, 2012

ABC’s Once Upon a Time opened Season 2 neither in Storybrooke nor in fairytale land. It wasn’t even Boston. Instead, the setting was… New York City?

Even more curious was the focus of those first two minutes — a character listed in the credits only as “Mysterious Man,” played by True Blood/Terriers alum Michael Raymond-James. “People wondered if we were going to start in Storybrooke or fairytale land. We started in a third place,” series cocreator Eddy Kitis tells TVLine. “We wanted to start in a world nobody expected.” What are viewers not named Desmond Hume to make of the jarring Season 2 opening and its enigmatic subject? “We’re very excited about the answer to who he is, and to reveal that sooner rather than later” — sometime within the first nine episodes, says cocreator Adam Horowitz.

Until “sooner” arrives, the show bosses hint that Mysterious Man’s apartment was not decorated in a vacuum. “We try to be meticulous with the production design, so… yes, there’s stuff in the apartment specific to the character,” says Horowitz. Adds Kitsis: “There’s one thing in there in particular … I’m not going to say what it is…. that has very significant meaning.” Fine, twist our arm. TVLine paid ridiculously close attention to the opening sequence, and even freeze-framed for you both sides of the Mysterious Man’s digs, calling out possible clues to his identity. One item in particular raised a red flag for us. Here now the photos and the sum total of our observations. (Plus, our full recap can be found on Page 2.)

1 | Mysterious Man apparently works on the Upper West Side, cutting through Central Park on his way home — and then taking an odd detour to East 47th St. — before hopping on the N-line subway at the 5th Avenue station.

2 | Mysterious Man lives on Grand Street in Little Italy, across from the famous Piemonte Ravioli Co.

4 | His other vintage possessions include a “Cleaner & Hatters” sign (B), a corded rotary-dial phone (D), a cobbler’s wooden shoe forms (G) and a Berol Giant manual pencil sharpener (J). Is he an anachronism himself, something out of time and place?

5 | Speaking of music… the tune playing throughout is “Charley’s Girl,” a Lou Reed ditty that warns, “You better watch out” because “she’s gonna turn you in” — as a beautiful blonde bail bondsperson might?

6 | Dreamcatcher (H)! Women’s bowling trophy (E)!…?

7 | Speaking again of music, the Mysterious Man loves his wax — which he presumably spins on his Desmond-like record player (M) — and just album covers in general. One example (I) is a print of John Guliak’s 7 Stories & 13 Songs. (If that’s also an album cover hanging to the left of the doorway, my research came up empty in ID’ing it. Any help?)

8 | But perhaps most… curious … is something that was barely yet purposefully glimpsed. Just after the Mysterious Man arrives home, the camera angle changes to peer down at the bookcase with the radios. Sticking out from behind it is a sign (inset, letter F) bearing the logo for the progressive punk rock band NoMeansNo — specifically, the logo used on the album The Day Everything Became Isolated and Destroyed. I’m just spit-balling here, but if you wish to risk being spoiled, check out the fourth track.

Lastly, let’s not forget the message delivered to this man via “air mail” — a postcard from Storybrooke bearing the simple message: “Broken.” Which to me suggests he was never able to enter the Maine town… until now.

Spooky, seductive and all kinds of sexy, ABC’s 666 Park Avenue officially opened its doors this Sunday at 10/9c — but how likely are you to frequent the Drake again this season? We’re eager to hear your thoughts on the supernatural series, but first, a brief refresher: Wide-eyed Midwesterners Jane and Henry (Rachael Taylor and Dave Annable) are met with the deal of a lifetime upon relocating to New York City: agree to manage an historic apartment building and, in turn, become tenants in any Manhattanite’s dream dwelling. There is, of course, a catch — though one unbeknownst to them: the owner of the building (played to creepy perfection by Terry O’Quinn) and his wife (Vanessa Williams) have some seemingly devilish ties, as demonstrated by their bringing back to life — and then killing again — a deceased tenant, among other unexplainable incidents. However, to hear the Lost alum’s character explain it, what he does is merely “fulfill dreams.”

In a Rosemary’s Baby-type turn of events, Jane, an architectural pro, begins to investigate the Drake and its mysterious goings-on while her other half Henry remains (almost) cluelessly smitten with their new abode. Robert Buckley, Mercedes Masöhn and Erik Palladino also co-star as various inhabitants and employees of the haunted housing unit. Now it’s your turn, what grade would you give 666 Park Avenue?

LGBT History Month celebratesthe achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Icons. Each day inOctober, a new LGBT Icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography,downloadable images and other resources.